At EDAC we are committed to making research accessible. Our Plain Speaking Summaries include plain language text on published papers and an interview with the authors. In this Plain Speaking Summary Dr Emy Nimbley introduced her paper that was published in 2023 and is interviewed by Ellen Maloney, an EDAC peer researcher.

Paper Synopsis

The full paper can be found here

Aims

Encouragingly, eating disorder researchers are starting to explore definitions of recovery that are rooted in lived/living experiences and draw on a range of factors, including physical factors, behaviours, thoughts and moods. What is missing, however, is exploring definitions of recovery in subgroups of eating disorders, such as an autism. We wrote an opinion piece, reviewing how we can apply and extend what we know about broader eating disorder recovery research to the unique experiences of Autistic people with an eating disorder.

Key Messages

We proposed that future research is urgently needed to explore definitions and understandings of recovery in Autistic individuals with an eating disorder.



Fundamentally, this research should be led by Autistic people, for Autistic people, and should include a range of physical, behavioural and psychological factors in their definitions.

Method

We started by reviewing what we know about autism and eating disorders, discussing how around a third of those with AN also show high Autistic traits. Eating disorder treatment outcomes and experiences are also poor in Autistic people, with longer inpatient treatments, multiple referrals and poor psychosocial outcomes. Turning to recovery research in broader eating disorders, we found that recent research has emphasised the importance of including multiple factors beyond weight and physical criteria, and that definitions should be person-centred and rooted in the unique needs and experiences of the individual. Applying this approach to autism and eating disorders, we recommended what needs to be done, why it

📌 Plain Speaking Summary: A call for autism-led research exploring definitions of recovery in Autistic individuals with an eating disorder (Nadaun)
🏢 Eating Disorders and Autism Collaborative (EDAC)
📍 Nadaun